Requirements

Some Converter for STEP options have specific licensing or application protocol requirements.

This page discusses:

Recommended Practices

The level of Recommended Practices published by the CAx Implementor Forum applied by the translator at import or export is the following.

  • CAx Implementor Forum, Recommended Practices for Colors, Layers & Groups, Release 1.1 - Draft, December 1, 2008
  • CAx Implementor Forum, Recommended Practices for External References, with References to the PDM Schema Usage Guide, Release 2.1, January 19, 2005
  • CAx Implementor Forum, CAx-IF Recommended Practices for the Representation and Presentation of Product Manufacturing Information (PMI), Version 3.0, 12/3/2010, Status in Work
  • CAx Implementor Forum, CAx-IF Recommended Practices for the Representation and Presentation of Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) (AP242), Version 4.0, October 13, 2014.
  • CAx Implementor Forum, Recommended Practices for Supplemental Geometry, Release 1.0
  • CAx Implementor Forum, Recommended Practices for Geometric Validation Properties (2nd Extension), December 6, 2006
  • CAx Implementor Forum, Recommended Practices for Assembly Validation Properties, Release 1.0
  • CAx Implementor Forum, Recommended Practices for User Defined Attributes, Release 0.8- Draft, November 1, 2010
  • CAx Implementor Forum, Recommended Practices for STEP File Compression, Release 0.5 - Draft
  • CAx Implementor Forum, Recommended Practices for 3D Tessellated Data Validation Properties, Release 0.3- Draft, January 9, 2012
  • CAx Implementor Forum, Recommended Practices for AP242 Business Object Model XML Assembly Structure, Release 0.90 - Final Draft, November 13, 2014
  • INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 10303-209 First edition 2001-10-01 PDES, Inc.®, Recommended Practices for AP 203ed2 and AP 209ed2 Composite Material Shape and Structure, Version 1.1, June 18, 2010, Keith Kunten. P.E.

See also CAx Implementor Forum http://www.cax-if.de and http://www.cax-if.org.

Application Protocols

Application Protocols are used to exchange geometry and visual presentation information.

One of the current primary uses of the AP214/AP242 ed1 Standards is to exchange geometry. The STEP Interface enables users to exchange the B-REP of exact solids. The exchange process is based on AP214/AP242 ed1. This application protocols are very similar to AP203 as they share the same resources expressed in the PART 42.

Another use of the AP214, AP203 ed2, AP203 with extensions or AP242 ed1 Standards is to exchange visual presentation information.

Important:
  • Conformance Classes 2,3,4 and 6 are supported in AP203.
  • Conformance Classes 1 and 2 are supported in AP214/AP242 ed1 (assembly and 3D geometry / topology management).
  • AP242 ed1 supports AP 242 XML files, i.e.:
    • A .stpx file that describe the assembly structure and references the .stp external files containing the geometry.
    • A .stpxZ file that describe the assembly structure and references .stpZ external files containing the geometry, if compressed.
    • While the external .stp or .stpZ files support standard STEP preferences, some limitations apply to the assembly .stpx or .stpxZ file (Support of unit, of description in header, of GVP/AVP and of UDA) .
    • AP242 ed2 support Composites data such as rosettes guided by curve, ply angle representation, multiple rosettes.

Some options, or the transfer of some entities, are only available with specific application protocols, as listed below.

Functionality AP203 AP203+ext AP214 AP203 ed2 AP214 ed3 AP242 ed1 AP242 ed2
3D Annotations (Graphic Mode) - - - Yes Yes Yes Yes
3D Annotations (Authorable and Graphic Mode) - - - - - Yes Yes
Assemblies (One STEP file) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Assemblies with external references to STEP - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Assemblies (Global or partial nested) - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Assemblies referencing a visualization representation - - - - - Yes Yes
Axis systems - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Composites - - - Yes Yes Yes
Geometry (exact) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Geometry (tessellated) - - - - - Yes Yes
Groups/selection sets Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Infinite planes - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) - - - Yes Yes Yes Yes
User Defined Attributes (UDA) - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Validation Properties - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Visual presentation (color, transparency, layer, line type) - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
AP242 XML files - - - - - Yes Yes

Licensing

Some options, the transfer of some entities or using STEP Persistence Designer, require that you have access to specific apps.

Note: Extended STEP Interface is provided by any of the following roles: Conversion Data Integrator for STEP Multidiscipline, 3DMaster Designer, Multi-Discipline 3DMaster Mechanical Designer, Composites Designer,Composites Designer & Manufacturer,Composites Engineer, or Composites Forming Designer.
Converter for STEP Extended STEP Interface Other
Geometric Validation Properties (GVP) Sufficient - -
Assembly Validation Properties (AVP) - Required -
Clouds of points (COPS) - Required -
DataExchangePLMBatch - Required -
Export of Nested Assemblies - Required -
Import of Nested Assemblies - Required -
3D Annotations (Graphic Mode) Sufficient - -
3D Annotations (Authorable and Graphic Mode) - Required 3D Tolerancing & Annotation required.
User Defined Attributes - Required -
Automatic healing after import Sufficient - -
Quality enhancement at export Sufficient - Shape Healing
Tessellated geometry Sufficient - -
Composites data - Required At least one Composites Design app required.